Wimbledon will follow the American and Aussie Opens in employing replay systems.
Replay systems will make its debut at Wimbledon in the upcoming tournament.
Athletes will gain the right to contest particular decisions from the official, following the system already in place at each of the American Grand Slam and the Aussie major.
The new system is slated for use on Centre Court and the number one court for the duration of the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles matches.
This step arrives only a season following the AELTC rolled out ELC, which effectively ended the centuries-old role of line judges.
What Can Be Reviewed?
Competitors will not be permitted to dispute the accuracy of the ELC system, but they can ask for the umpire to re-examine specific situations, such as:
- If a ball has bounced twice.
- If a ball touched an opponent's racquet or person on the way past.
- Potential hindrance end of a point.
Notably, there is no limit on the number of challenges a player can ask for.
A Recent Example
An illustrative case occurred in Indian Wells last week, where Daniil Medvedev used the video challenge against Jack Draper.
The British player admitted it was a tough call for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "used the regulations effectively."
The umpire watched a replay and determined the player was responsible for interference, granting the rally to his opponent.
Broader Adoption
Video reviews aren't new for Grand Slams. The system has been in use at the American major for two years and the Aussie Open this year.
Additionally, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the ATP circuit will have video reviews implemented at every one of its events.
Further Updates
Another innovation at Wimbledon this year will be the introduction of graphical cues on scoreboards to complement the audio calls from the electronic line calling system.
This addresses instances where fans have sometimes been unsure whether a shot was out or in.
Finally, with precisely 100 days to go until the beginning of the tournament, organizers have also revealed an increase in daily capacity at the qualifiers in the qualifying venue.
